Saturday, November 30, 2013

As I finally finished up my homework for the week, it was
time to kick back and relax a bit. To find something to relax to, I decided to
jump into some type of modern low-budget creature feature. After all, for the
past few days I have been in a more serious mode, focusing on Serial Killers,
Ouija Boards and Insanity. After some debate, I decided on the 2012 schlockfest
Return of the Killer Shrews.

Plot/ The 1959 film, The Killer Shrews, found a group of
folks on an island with the ravenous beasts. This time James Best's ship
captain is hired by a reality crew to return to the island and...you guessed
it, the shrews attack again.

Bringing James Best back for this sequel some 50-years later
should say everything you need to know about this one. How can anyone see a sequel
to The Killer Shrews and expect anything but low-budget schlock. Incredibly, it even took the cheesy Shrew creature
effects from the original and trumped that with CGI insanity. The scripting is
hilarious, as it was actually true to the original and so over-the-top that it
is clear that it was meant to be tongue-and-cheek. Yes, the CGI is horrid, the acting is so-so
and the storyline absurd, but it is a fun and entertaining homage to one of the
cheesiest B-Movie creature features ever made, what more can you ask for? In the end, this movie is one of the cheesiest
no-budget creature features to come out in some time. Yes, there is little
quality, but if you love this type of flick and can get past the low-budget and
absurd special effects, you should enjoy it.
Check it out!

Black Friday has came and went. Incredibly, I made only two
purchases, one online and the other at Barnes and Noble. Of course, I really
did lot look for stuff today, as I am still trying to determine what I am
searching for. I will figure it out soon, I have to. Christmas is only three or
so weeks away. Once I returned home I decided to watch something a bit
different, the true story The Frozen Ground.

Plot/ Based on a true story, an Alaska State Trooper
partners with a young woman who escaped the clutches of serial killer Robert
Hansen to bring the murderer to justice.

Thrillers based on true stories, especially those involving
serial killers are often a challenge. When you throw in Nicolas Cage and John
Cusack, and it could be even more of a challenge. However, in this one, all of
the acting is solid, and maintain the dark demeanors needed to bring this story
to life. The cinematography is awesome,
soundtrack works and the overall feel is dark and heavy. Yes, some of the crime
drama feels a bit cliché, but that is somewhat expected. In the end, this flick
does step outside the normal serial killer genre and creates something
atmospheric and authentic. Sure, it is not for everyone, but if you enjoy Cage,
Cusack or thrillers, check it out!

Friday, November 29, 2013

As Thanksgiving winds down, I wanted to watch something
outside my normal pattern. While last night’s I Am ZoZo was a disappointment, I
was convinced that my next selection had to be better. After some debate, I
decided upon the 2013 indie thriller Magic Magic.

Plot/ Alicia is stuck on a remote island off Chile with
three of Sarah's friends, including Brink, an American exchange student with a
sadistic streak. Bewildered, frightened, and unable to sleep, Alicia's reality
becomes a nightmare from which there is no waking. Ancient indigenous rites,
disturbing animal behavior, and captivating hypnotic trances come together in
an intense exploration into the darkest corners... when the games go too far,
reality unravels with astonishing and deadly consequences.

This is a strange movie. Definitely more of a psychological
drama than thriller, there is a complex storyline here that is more detailed
than some would like. In fact, the dark undertone and tremendous performances
from some of the characters make it even more interesting. Yes, some will be
misled by the synopsis, which attempt to push it toward the horror or thriller categories,
but it is not that at all. The cinematography is solid, Juno Temple is amazing
and the atmosphere is solid. Yes, the end leaves a bit to be desired and may
add an overwhelming sense of confusion, there is little to no character
development and the characters themselves may have been too detached. In the
end, I found this an atmospheric and entertaining flick, but I am sure many
will disagree. This one is definitely not for everyone, but if you are in for a
complex and dark drama, give it a shot.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

After spending some time in retro mode lately, I decided to
modernize my selections for the holiday weekend. While Halloween is my favorite
holiday, I also love spending time with my family. Sure, we do not have those
classic family political discussions because our opposite views would
definitely spawn arguments. Yes, I am related to a batch of Progressives, and
all of my attempts at showing them some Libertarian light has failed. Oh well,
I will keep trying. Now, back to the review; my next selection is the 2012
entry I Am ZoZo.

Plot/ I Am ZoZo is a psychological thriller about five young
people who play with a Ouija board on Halloween and attract the attention of a
malevolent demon. The film is based on real experiences with an ancient and
malevolent spirit called ZoZo that attaches itself to people exclusively
through Ouija boards.

I will admit I was interested in seeing this mostly because
of one of my students who talked about ZoZo all the time. While I figured it
would have some flaws, I have to admit that I was caught off guard by this one.
Yes, the idea was interesting and had potential, especially shooting in Super
8, but that was lost by poor execution within
the storyline and too much cliché. The acting is uneven, the characterization
lacking, and there was really no scary points. Sure, there were a few creepy
moments with the Ouija Board, but those are just eerie in general. In the end, this flick loosely based on true
events does not live up to its promise and becomes another forgettable trip in
horror.

As my week wound down at the institute, I decided on my
drive that I was heading to Family Video to grab some stuff for the weekend.
One flick I decided on is a sequel, a movie over 50-years in the making. Before
I get to that one, I decided to revisit the original and enjoy some of cheesy
1950s horror. What is the movie? It is the 1959 schlockfest The Killer Shrews.

Plot/ On an isolated island, a small group of people are
terrorized by giant voracious shrews in the midst of a hurricane.

Cheesy B-Grade horror flicks of the 1950s are always a mixed
bag and this one is no different. Yes, it is bad, complete with laughable
effects and a campy storyline that is often incoherent at best. However, this
fun and entertaining schlockfest has some awesome characters and decent acting.
Sure, it is far from perfect and truly let down by the budget and direction,
but it is a fun let-down. In the end,
this movie is one of the more entertaining no-budget thrillers of the era. If
you love this type of flick and can get past the low-budget and absurd special effects,
you should enjoy it. Check it out!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

As Thanksgiving draws
near, I will finally have a chance to spend some extra time with the family
relaxing a bit (and a couple extra days away from PIA). I will also have some
extra time to finish up the first week of my Digital Literacy class. Going back
to school into a creative writing program is going to be a challenge, but it is
one I am looking forward to. However, talking about the digital world this week
has made me more appreciative of the Sci-Fi / Horror classics of past
generations, like my next selection the Roger Corman flick Attack of the Crab
Monsters.

Plot/ A group of scientists travel to a remote island to
study the effects of nuclear weapons tests, only to get stranded when their
airplane explodes. The team soon discovers that the island has been taken over
by crabs that have mutated into enormous, intelligent monsters.

There is nothing like the cheesy schlockfest of the 1950s.
Those Sci-Fi creature features must have been perfect to watch in a dark theatre.
To me, this flick would be a perfect for that setting. Yes, the storyline is
campy, the scripting uneven, and the acting all over the place, but it does not
matter. The most impressive part is that even with a low budget and some
laughable creations, this one is entertaining, bizarre, strange, and everything
that you could ask for in this genre. In the end, the is one of Corman’s most
memorable early flicks and one of the weirdest horror flicks of that era. If
you have not seen it, check it out!

Monday, November 25, 2013

As Monday passed by and I started working on my new class in
school, Digital Literacy, my day was filled with activity. Between finishing up
teaching VHF Communications, sitting through an online meeting, and dealing
with more cold weather, I could not ask for anything better. When I sat down to
relax and find something to watch, I decided that it was time to venture back
into the land of the Digital Immigrant for the 1954 Sci-Fi classic GOG.

Plot/ A security agent investigates sabotage and murder at a
secret underground laboratory, home of two experimental robots.

This one had been taunting me for some time until I broke
down and watched it. I am glad that I did. This was an interesting and
realistic take on early science based suspense. In many ways, this Sci-Fi gem of the early
1950s is actually a precursor to real technology of today, portraying it
perfectly within the heart of the Cold War tensions of the day. The acting was
solid, the effects good and the storyline and the cinematography works. On top
of that, the robots GOG and MAGOG are curious, especially considering the age
of the film. Yes, some of the scripting may drag some of the pacing in the middle
and some of the action scenes miss the mark, but for a film that is almost 60-years
old, some flaws are expected. In the end, GOG is one of those Saturday Sci-Fi Matinee
Classics that are entertaining and fun; perfect for fans of classic Sci-Fi.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

With the Steelers game now in the books and this being the
last evening I have before starting back to college tomorrow in a creative
writing program, I decided to jump back in time for some retro horror. After
some thought, I decided upon the 1984 creature feature C.H.U.D.

Plot/ A bizarre series of murders in New York City seems to
point toward the existence of a race of mutant cannibals living under the
streets.

C.H.U.D or Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, is
one of those movies from the 1980s that has always seemed a bit under the
RADAR. Yes, the sequel may have destroyed the franchise, but the original is
entertaining, and incredibly, has stood the test of time. The storyline is awesome,
the acting is solid and the effect (while low budget) still have some bite.
Honestly, I would rather watch the low budget effects of the 1980s instead of
much of the CGI crap out there today. Yes, some of it makes little sense and
the creatures do look cheesy at times, but that still does not stop it from
being an entertaining B-Grade creature feature. In the end, this is one of
those movies that while far from perfect, is a must see if you are a fan of the
1980s. If you have not watched it, give it a shot, you could do much worse.

After watching Amnesiac last night, I decided that I wanted
to venture into some classic horror characters for the rest of the night. After
some debate inside my head, I figured that I could give Chucky another shot.
Sure, some of the sequels were horrid, but that character has always been
awesome. With that in mind, I decided on the 2013 entry Curse of Chucky.

Plot/ After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to
suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing
with may be the key to recent bloodshed and chaos.

For the longest time, I was convinced that the Child's Play
model and Chucky had run its course. However, after watching this installment,
I was wrong. This movie is one of the best in the series and one that should
have received more attention. The storyline was interesting, the soundtrack
spot on, the atmosphere is heavy and Chucky is at his best. The special effects
are notably good, as they allowed for a tremendous of depth inside many
different kills. Yes, some of the acting may have been too rigid to make this a
perfect flick, but it is all rather good. In the end, this may be the best
installment of the series since the original and makes some of the duds even more forgettable.
Sure, this entertaining flick is not for everyone, but it should be. Check it
out!

Now that I have had enough with the Sci-Fi and
post-apocalyptic worlds for a little while, I decided to venture out to Family
Video to see what I could find. It has been a couple weeks since I made that
trip across town, as the last time I was there nothing jumped out at me. With
everything running together, I might as well just kick back with Netflix. While
there I saw a few things that caught my eye, the first was the 2013 low budget
entry Amnesiac from Hunger Cult Films and Midnight Releasing.

Plot/ A gripping blend of supernatural horror and
psychological drama counting the cost of loss, guilt and reckless desperation
as we delve into the life of one deeply disturbed young woman and the afterlife
of one equally disturbed dead man.

With this being a low budget independent entry, I went into
it with mixed emotions. Fortunately, what I found was much better than I
expected. Also known as Wyke Wreake, this one was not perfect, but coming from
the indie scene, I did not expect it to be. What I found was a cast that worked
well together and the acting was rather good. The storyline was curious; there
were some interesting editing choices that added some surrealism to the atmosphere
and the effects worked. The most impressive aspect of the film was the script
and storyline, which was both entertaining and thought provoking. Yes, there
were some sound track issues that made little sense and somewhat took away from
the building atmosphere and there were editing decisions left things a bit
incoherent in place. However, this was a much better effort than much of the
low budget cinema that plagues the genre. In the end, this is an entertaining
and intriguing psychological horror flick and a movie that should be seen. If
you have a chance, check it out!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Last night I skipped blogging to go with the family to see
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. While I was not a huge fan of the first flick,
I was more impressed with this one. In fact, not only am I excited to see the
final installments of the series, I am glad that the daughters have both read
the books and watched the movie. This series is extremely relevant to the fundamentals
of Agenda 21 and the building tyrannical Police State evolving under this
lawless regime. This is a perfect
snapshot at what will happen to our society if things do not change in Washington
D.C. However, that is not what I am reviewing today, that movie is the 1981
Sci-Fi / Horror flick Galaxy of Terror.

Plot/ As a lone spaceship proceeds on its long voyage across
space, the crew are surprised to encounter a strange pyramid form. Surprise
turns to horror as one by one; they discover that their darkest nightmares are
all starting to become real.

This is by no means a great movie, but it is one of my
guilty pleasures. It has everything that made Roger Corman schlock flicks
awesome. It is outrageous and totally unbelievable, it is graphic and sleazy,
and it has just enough of a storyline to be interesting. The acting (by an
awesome cast Sid Haig, Robert Englund and more) is uneven, but that works in
this type of flick. Even the effects, which are actually above B-Grade movie,
are pretty solid considering the era. In the end, this Corman entry is one that
should be seen. Yes, it is far from perfect and some of the scenes may turn
some people off, but who cares. If you love B-Grade Sci-Fi / Horror, give this
one a shot.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

While tonight, I am sitting through The Hunger Games, as I
have tickets to take the daughters to the opening of Catching Fire tomorrow,
yesterday was a different animal. I am still not sure how I feel about this
Agenda 21 propaganda I am watching now, but that does not matter. Last night, I
continued my recent trip into classic era Sci-Fi, and I decided on the 1959 gem
The Angry Red Planet.

Plot/ The first spaceship to Mars, presumed lost, is found
in space and brought back to Earth by remote control. Once safely on Earth, the
scientists learn of the terrible dangers awaiting anyone venturing into the diverse
Martian ecosystem.

This is another one of those great campy Sci-Fi gems of the
1950s and 1660s. Made with a low budget (with effects to back that up), this
flick is a fun and entertaining look at the Martian landscape. While it is a
decent entry from that time, there are some of the typical B-Movie flaws one
should expect for that era. The acting is so-so, the characters are flat, and
the effects are definitely special… Yet, this is one of the more entertaining
films I have watched from that time. In the end, if you enjoy classic Sci-Fi cheese-fests,
you should definitely check this one out.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

As I prepare to start college again heading toward my
creative writing degree, I decided that I needed to take a trip into some other
genres. After spending some time in the post-apocalyptic world and then
transitioning into a classic Italian horror stage, I decided to head into some
classic Sci-Fi era schlock. First up on my list to watch was one of the first flicks I remember seeing the ifluence of the United nations, the 1962 no-budget
Journey to the Seventh Planet.

Plot/ Earth sends a five-man team to explore the frozen
planet Uranus, only to find a temperate forest and sultry women from their past
on it, courtesy of an alien brain with evil designs.

As a fan of classic-era Sci-Fi, it is always fun to kick
back and watch some of the no-budget flicks from that time. This is one of
those movies that, while it is far from perfect, is a great way to spend time
watching. Yes, it is a typical storyline of the day, but it is far from cliché considering
the 1960s release date. The women (although they could not act), the scenery, sound effect and cinematography are all
solid, something that is often difficult to find in flicks from that era. While
the acting is uneven, some of the script lacks depth, the editing poor and a
lot of the special effects are laughable, they are also not devastating to the
overall enjoy-ability of the movie. In the end, I have seen much worse in this
genre and believe this one sits somewhere in the middle. Yes, it is far from
perfect, but it is also entertaining and any fan of cheesy Sci-Fi must see.